Sustaining the Future: Women in Organic Agriculture

When women are empowered to be leaders, economies grow and prospects for current and future generations are improved. Research shows that women are making important contributions to the growing organic sector. This session is dedicated to exploring these contributions. Bringing together a diverse group of academic researchers and organic farmers, we discuss key challenges and opportunities for women in organics: now and in the future.

Dr. Amber Fletcher

University of ReginaDr. Amber Fletcher is Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology and Social Studies, University of Regina. Her research examines how women in agricultural communities are affected by (and respond to) climate change and major changes in agricultural policy. Amber’s research has been widely published in international scholarly journals and books. Her book (with Wendee Kubik) entitled Women in Agriculture Worldwide: Key Issues and Practical Approaches was published by Routledge in 2016. Amber holds two Governor General’s awards for her work on gender issues in Canada. She has served as a delegate to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (2012) and as a gender consultant to the UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme.

Dr. Lisa Clark

University of SaskatchewanLisa F. Clark holds a PhD in political science and is currently a research associate with the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Saskatchewan. She is currently examining the political and socioeconomic dimensions of innovative ready-to-use foods. Her research interests include food security, food quality standards and labelling, food safety regulations, and technology & innovation in the food system. Lisa’s work has appeared in Food Policy, Science and Public Policy, Social Philosophy Today and most recently, Food Law & Policy. Her new book, The Changing Politics of Organic Food in North America is available in hardback and e-book from Edward Elgar Publishing.

Wendee Kubik

Brock UniversityWendee Kubik is an Associate Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies at Brock University, as well as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Regina. She is a member of the Environmental Sustainability Research Centre and Social Justice and Equity Studies program at Brock University and a member of RESOLVE (Research and Education for Solutions to Violence and Abuse) Saskatchewan. Her research interests focus on women in agriculture, women’s health, violence against women, missing and murdered Indigenous women, food and water security and sustainability, women’s work, and gender analysis.

Angela Schmitt

RedWillow OrganicsAngela’s interest in organics was sparked when she moved from Regina to her husband’s farm in rural Saskatchewan in the late 1980’s. Not being a farmer at the time, she was alarmed at the cost of fertilizers and chemicals, not only on the bottom line of the farming operation, but also to the health of her family.Now, almost 20 years later, she is a passionate advocate of producing and eating organically as a lifestyle, especially with her own family which now includes 5 grand-daughters, and working closely with her husband on the business side of the operation. She is currently an elected Director of SaskOrganics, and has participated in Trade Missions to other countries in the past 3 years as a member of the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP).

Lisa Mumm

Mumm’s Sprouting SeedsLisa Mumm was raised on her family’s organic seed and sheep farm, and is a fourth generation farmer. She is passionate about agriculture, from seeds and soil to consumer education and awareness. Together with her parents, Jim & Maggie Mumm, she runs the family farm and business, Mumm’s Sprouting Seeds. When Lisa isn’t growing seed in the field, selling seed from the office, or sprouting seed into sprouts and microgreens, she loves gardening, and wild harvesting, and spending time with her horses.Lisa works with the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network in their efforts to stop GM Alfalfa, and is a member of the Organic Agriculture Protection Fund Committee of SaskOrganics. Lisa also sits on the board of Organic Connections, and is a member of the Organic Value Chain Roundtable. She is also currently serving a second term on the Canada Organic Trade Association board of directors.

Nicole Davis

Daybreak MillsNicole grew up with a passion for organics. Born and raised in a small town in the province’s southeast, she was immersed in an organic lifestyle since a child. Organic farming is in her blood; practices passed down from her father and his father before him dating back to early settlement. It’s this value of family and personal connections with others that inspires her to continue to farm this way and create ‘good for you’ food.After some time traveling, Nicole returned to Saskatchewan and began helping out on the family’s organic farm. She went out to Daybreak Mill one day and got a job, a little over a year later, Nicole took over ownership of Daybreak Mill in January 2012.

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Organic Connections is a non-profit organization established to organize conferences and trade shows for the prairie organic industry and to facilitate activities that enhance and promote the organic sector through education and awareness.